Chan Gailey’s offenses are known for having a ton of shifts and motions. And it’s a well known fact that it often puts more pressure on a defense to get properly aligned to defend it pre-snap. Right now in OTAs it’s serving to help the Bills defense get their ducks in a row.

“We’re installing a bunch of defenses every day and a lot of the terminology carries over to another call and a lot of them will be the same words and the same kind of verbiage,” said Andra Davis. “So it’s kind of tricky especially when our offense does so much movement and stuff it makes you think. It makes you be more verbal. The more verbal we are as a defense getting the right calls out, the easier it is when the play starts.”

So Buffalo’s offense is forcing its defense to communicate quickly and effectively before the snap during team work. That kind of pressure now will only help come September.

With the first week of OTAs in the books, Donte Whitner and his teammates that were here last year have been indoctrinated by the new coaching staff as to how they’re going to prepare for football under Chan Gailey. According to Whitner it’s completely different from what they did in the past.

“Even if we thought we were working hard before, it’s a lot harder now,” said Whitner. “So it’s almost like a welcome to the NFL type of thing. The weight room its totally different thing from the way we lift, the style of lifting, the things we do, the running. It’s almost going back to college knowing how hard you work and running the gassers. That’s what it’s going to take for us to win everybody in top peak shape. We’ve been in the top 3 the past couple of year in injuries. That should help us, so I think we’ll be pretty good.”

When specifically asked by a media member if the camps under the previous coaching regime were too easy Whitner was of the opinion that they were.

“I don’t want to ruffle any feathers, but I would say yes,” he said. “I really feel like that, now looking at the way we work now and the way we worked collectively before yes, totally yes.”

Bills LB Kawika Mitchell is participating on a limited basis in the team’s OTA practices. He was hopeful for a May return when Buffalobills.com spoke to him back in February, but at this point he says there’s no specific timetable, and this early in the offseason there’s no reason to rush things.

“It’s really just going to be based on how I feel, the stronger I can get, the more I can do,” Mitchell said. “We’re just trying to build up the endurance and stamina of my leg and every day we test it more and more so eventually I’ll be in there. No real time date.”

Knowing all that’s left with respect to his rehab is building up the stamina in his repaired leg, Mitchell’s return should be sooner rather than later.

There is a bunch of Bills players still unable to participate in voluntary OTAs, which begin today (Tues.) due to surgeries performed toward the end of last season for injuries or postseason surgeries. Here’s the rundown of players.

Bills RB C.J. Spiller and no doubt a good portion of his teammates got their work in early on Monday.

Per his latest twitter post, several players were up and at ’em this morning.

Lightning28 Well had a great wrkout now we done for the day think I’m get sum rest before I see way Blo mite even take a blo fan to lunch. Go bills #21

No word yet on whether he’s found a Bills fan for lunch. Players are getting their last conditioning workouts in Monday before OTAs begin on Tuesday. Buffalobills.com will have full coverage throughout.

OTAs are fast approaching and you fans have some roster questions. As always AskChris@bills.nfl.net to submit questions. Let’s get to it.

1 – Chris:
I think the switch to a 3-4 could be good w/ the bills personnel. I think Ellis and Maybin should be outside LBs in a 3-4. I think Kyle Williams, Spencer Johnson and John McCargo could be DE in this line up?
Your thoughts or what you’ve heard about these guys playing these spots.
Thanks
Steve

CB: Well Chris Ellis and Aaron Maybin both lined up at OLB in the rookie minicamp. I thought Ellis showed improvement as the practices wore on. Still it will be an adjustment for both of them. Come training camp though they should both have their bearings with the new responsibilities there.

Kyle Williams I see primarily as a nose tackle, but I could see them kicking him out to end in certain down and distance situations. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s used as a three technique DT in a 4-3 passing down look either. I anticipate the defense to be more of a hybrid 3-4 than a true 3-4.

Spencer Johnson will be primarily an end as will John McCargo. At least that’s the plan going in. I think Johnson is a good fit on the edge.

2 – Chris,
Many fans suspect that Brohm may become the starting QB and would like an update on his status?
Could you provide some insight into where Brohm currently fits in?
If the Qb competition is truly “open” then Brohm should no longer be considered the third string QB.
As always, many thanks for all your work!
Go Bills!
Brendan F. Walsh

CB: I think it is truly a level playing field for Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brohm. Chan Gailey even responded to my question about Levi Brown being in the mix as having a legitimate chance. Gailey doesn’t harbor any favoritism for any of these veteran signal callers because he inherited them. He didn’t choose them to be on this roster.

Therefore I think he can truly be open-minded and objective and let their performance make the decision for him and his staff. The QB that performs the most effectively and consistently will win the job. So although Edwards and Fitzpatrick might have more NFL experience than Brohm (1 career start), he will have every opportunity to compete.

In fact I anticipate that the reps will be pretty equal between those three with Brown likely seeing fewer reps, particularly with the first unit.

3 – Hi Chris,
What is the latest news on Eric Wood? If Brain Brohm manages to snag the starting QB job, does Wood move inside to Center because they played together in College?
Thanks,
Mike

CB: Eric is still not ready to participate in on field workouts, though there is an outside chance that he could do some work in late June. He will be full go for training camp, which is most important barring any setbacks.

Your question regarding his familiarity with Brohm is an interesting one. However, it appears as though they’d prefer to leave Wood at guard and Hangartner as the starting man in the pivot.

4 – Chris,

I was wondering what actually happened during the Bills voluntary workouts. More specific, did the QB’s workout like the draft prospects?

Thanks
Alan, A.K.A. BuffaloGeek; A.K.A. Hardcorebillsfan

CB: If you’re referring to the offseason conditioning workouts the quarterbacks have been participating on a pretty regular basis. Brohm, Edwards and Fitzpatrick were all here doing classroom work with the playbook, weight room work and on field conditioning. They also do walk through work with respect to the offense with teammates.

If you’re referring to the recent rookie minicamp, only first and second-year players could participate with the rookies as it was explained to me. Brohm is a second-year player, which is why he was allowed to practice. Edwards and Fitzpatrick were not eligible to participate.

5 – Chris,
What are the Bill’s plans with Chris Kelsay this year? I don’t see him getting on the field as a OLB.
I though his best move would have been to put on some weight and move to end in the 3-4.
He is one of the highest paid players on the team and not a top option at LB.
Ron

CB: You might not see Kelsay as a 3-4 OLB, but the Bills do. I anticipate he’ll be on the strong side when he lines up in OTAs. So you know Kelsay played some OLB in college at Nebraska, so it’s not something that’s completely foreign to him.

I don’t know if Kelsay is someone you want to write off before seeing him on the field first. There aren’t many players on Buffalo’s roster as focused and determined as that guy when it comes to a challenge like a position switch.

Knowing the difficulties in completely remaking a roster in one offseason to fit a scheme switch like the one the Bills are undergoing this offseason, it would almost be surprising if the Bills did not employ a hybrid defense of sorts in 2010.

Talking to Bills DC George Edwards, who was kind enough to carve out some time in his busy schedule, it’s clear his coaching background has prepared him well for adjusting to the strengths of the players he has at his disposal. Having been through scheme changes before like the one the Bills are about to undergo in just over a week’s time when OTAs begin, he sounds like he has a firm grasp of how to begin to implement the 3-4 scheme, but not at the cost of reducing the playmaking ability of some of the players at his disposal.

“It’s like coach (Gailey) said when we came in here,” Edwards told Buffalobills.com. “We’re going to implement the basic fundamentals of the 3-4, but we’re also going to do what the skill set of our players allows us to do.”

Translation, if alignments and assignments have to stray from the core principles of the 3-4 in order to maximize a player’s effectiveness we’re going to do it. It’s just encouraging to hear coaches being open to maximizing player strengths instead of pigeon-holing them into a system.

Bills head coach Dick Jauron was questioned about using Roscoe Parrish more on the offensive side of the ball or perhaps creating a small package of plays designed to take advantage of his skills, knowing Parrish would like to expand his role on the team as a receiver. Here were coach’s comments on the subject.

“Everybody on our football team would like a bigger role that doesn’t have a big role already,” said Jauron. “They all compete for it and he’s competing and he had a couple of really nice days in our OTAs. He just has to continue to do it and fit into the scheme and understand what we’re doing and how we do it. He’s done a nice job so far. He’ll certainly be a challenger for more playing time and we’ll see where it goes. We’re really happy that he’s been here and happy that he’s with us.”

Parrish had his best day on Wednesday when he made a few big plays in the passing game including a 65-yard touchdown.

Bills fourth-round pick Shawn Nelson has missed the entire third week of voluntary OTAs. On Friday head coach Dick Jauron explained why the rookie tight end has been absent.

“Personal problems,” said Jauron as to why Nelson has not been in attendance. “But none of it is mandatory. Our guys are really good about informing us. Sometimes they can’t be here and they have issues they need to take care of. That’s fine. We appreciate the fact that they let us know and stay in touch with us.”

Jauron said he anticipates that Nelson will be back for the final week of spring practices next week.

For the first time this spring Ashton Youboty is participating in OTAs as he is working his way back from platar fasciitis that landed him on I-R last season.

He only did individual position drill work and is hopeful he’ll be able to do more during minicamp next week. We’ll have more on how he’s feeling in today’s OTA Day 10 notes on the home page this afternoon.